Appopos to “Zeliangrong redefined: an introspective view” published in local dailies by G. Gwangphun, Social Research Activist dated 24, April. 2016 has made a horrendous claim by stating “It is essential to know that Inpui have been part of Rongmei family since the era of Kabui until recent past.”
It is essential to remind the writer that Inpuis were never part of the so called Rongmei family as put forward by him. The same writer in February 3 2014 article “The truth of Zeliangrong” also made an ill founded comment that “at that time Inpui was accounted and called together with Rongmei under Kabui. (Inpui was understood to be of Rongmei under Kabui identity recognized scheduled tribe of India)”. But instead Rongmei was understood to be Kabui (Inpui) by the British administrator. Kabui as a Rongmei has never been established but the name was appropriated by the majority to suit their interest and has led to much confusion and misunderstanding. But he also rightly noted that “The Zeliangrong being the contentious nomenclature for its discriminative nature when viewed through the prism of diverse related and identical tribes living together in a compact geographical region”. Here the writer refer to only Rongmei discriminated in Nagaland by Zeliang but conspicuously left Inpui being discriminated and alienated for decades both in Manipur and Nagaland and portraying themselves as victim of their own design. When the whole Naga has come to understand and recognised each other history, culture and identity there is no need for armchair researcher to comment and publish articles without proper research and finding. Some previous researchers has committed the same error due to personal bias and without proper field study but based on wishful thinking and inferring from previously ill constructed history. Inpui has rejected Zeliangrong constructing Inpui (Kabui) as sub tribe of Rongmei from the very beginning of Zeliangrong formation eventually leaving the union on May 1998 at Ntuma Nagaland. Till today Zeliangrong and Inpui leaders has failed to find a common ground where they can reconciled due to such misconception and misleading notion propounded by so called researchers. It is also to be noted that silence to such statement doesn’t amount to acceptance. Continued disregard for others established identity at this age and time simply suggests ignorance and colonial mindset. Researchers instead of playing a constructive role keep on writing whimsical article for furtherance of their own selfish interest and such irresponsible and ill-informed write up need to be corrected and should refrained from such which can bring further confusion and misunderstanding.
Isaac Inkah